The pre-season is all over and we should all be well pleased with our return of winning three pieces of silverware. Is the trophy cabinet big enough? Do we even have a trophy cabinet? Who is going to be responsible for keeping the trophies clean? Will FIFA sell the Stan Venness Trophy to the highest bidder? It's been a decent start, winning three of the games and opportunities for minutes in the legs and for triallists to impress Mitch and his team.

However, the real business starts now, with our first game of the season proper taking place on Friday 7th August, with an FA Cup tie against Hilltop FC from the Combined Counties Premier Division North (so Step 5). Hilltop play at Hendon FC's Silver Jubilee Park ground. Kick off is 7.45pm.

Our Opponents- Hilltop FC

We have never met Hilltop before, as they are a relatively new club, set up in 2005 to give young Somalis based in West London the chance to play competitive football. By all accounts, the club are very friendly and welcoming and provide a great service for their community, offering football for male, female and youth players. They were kicking a football around in the park not much more than a decade ago, so their rise to step 5 is commendable.

Hilltop started out in the Middlesex League and moved up to the Combined Counties League in 2021. They made their debut in the FA Vase in 2021/22 and entered the FA Cup for the first time, the season after.

In their 4 seasons of FA Cup action, Hilltop are yet to win a tie. I know what you are thinking, but don't shoot the messenger. They did manage a draw last season at home to Isthmian South East side, Deal Town - being 2-0 up almost into second half injury time, but let in two late goals and then lost the replay down on the Kent coast.

They have had more success in the FA Vase, the highlight being in 2023/24 when they reached the 5th round before losing at home to eventual winners, Romford.

Last season in the Combined Counties League, they finished in a safe 16th place with 41 points from 38 games played. They scored freely with 71 goals, but appear to have been a bit open at the back, conceding 94. This included a 13-0 hammering from British Airways, in that club's final ever game, (what a way to check out and fly off into the sunset!).

Hilltop have already started their league campaign with a home game against a club we used to play back in the mid 1990's, Wokingham Town. Hilltop lost the game 2-1 with all the goals coming in the second half.

The winners of this tie have been drawn away at either Combined Counties Premier Division North side, Northwood, (memories of our game there in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round, way back in 2000/1), or local Essex Senior League side, Hutton, with the game scheduled for the weekend of 22nd/23rd August.

Grays recent record in the FA Cup

It's been a while since our last decent run the FA Cup. It was back in 2015/16 where we made the 4th Qualifying Round and were drawn at home (then it was Mill Field) against National League side, Welling United. In the second half we took the lead through Alex Addai, but were just unable to get over the line. The Wings made us pay, winning the replay 4-0.

In the last 5 years, our record has been nothing to write home about;

In 21/22 we lost at our first hurdle, in the Preliminary Qualifying Round (PQR) to Baldock Town 2-1.
In 2022/23 we did better, beating Stotfold in the PQR, after a replay, 3-2. We then defeated Edgware & Kingsbury 4-1, at Silver Jubilee Park. In the 2nd Qualifying Round we had high hopes when drawn at home to Shefford Town & Campton, but a good performance from the Bedfordshire side saw them overcome a very disappointing Blues by 3-1.
On to 2023/24 and Mark Stimson's side lost in the PQR to New Salamis, 3-1 having earned a replay with a very late goal in the first game at the EMR.
2024/25 and we entered the competition at the Extra PQR stage beating Hullbridge Sports at the EMR, 5-1. In the PQR we were again drawn at home but easily dispatched by an impressive Witham Town 4-1.
Last season, we travelled to Barking in the Extra PQR and won through 2-1 thanks to a Sam Bantick penalty on the stroke of half time and Harry Hope's second half finish. This gave us a very tough tie in the PQR at Hitchin Town. Callum Fitzer's excellent volley put us in front, and we held the lead until the last play of the game when Hitchin scored from a somewhat lucky, deflected header. The replay saw The Canaries take an early lead and despite a lot of second half pressure, we were unable to equalise.

So you could say we are overdue a good run in the famous old competition. You could also say we are overdue some good luck too.

However, one thing that stands out from those 5 seasons is how often we started slower than our opponents and conceded first. In the 12 games we played over the last 5 seasons of the FA Cup, we conceded the first goal in 9 of them. Not always decisive in terms of the final result, but a habit we need to try and break if we want to progress.

Getting There

The postcode for Silver Jubilee Park is NW9 7NE.

Depending on the traffic on the day, the best option may be to take the A13 in towards London and then the A406 North Circular to the Brent Cross Interchange. From here take the A41 North. After about 300 metres is a poorly signed turning left into Park Road. Take this all the way to the Edgware Road and then take a left and immediately a right into Cool Oak Lane. Follow this until it becomes Wood Lane, bearing right and then left until a right hand turn into Townsend Lane. The ground and car park are on the right after about 250 metres.

If you miss the Park Road turning, then don't worry, just carry on the A41, branching off left at Colindeep on to the A5150. After about 800 metres, at a mini roundabout, take a left into Rushgrove Avenue. Follow this down to the Edgware Road and turn left and then at the traffic lights, right, into Kingsbury Road. After 500 metres, turn left into Townsend Lane and follow this for 600 metres and the ground is on the left.

The RAC Routeplanner reckons the journey should take 65 minutes but at that time of a Friday evening, I would recommend allowing a bit longer than that.

If you are travelling by public transport from Grays, then the best route is to take the C2C to Barking and change onto the Hammersmith and City Line. Take this to Farringdon and join the Thameslink service that stops at Hendon. It should take about 75 minutes in all. As always, check for any travel disruption before setting out.

From Hendon station, take Station Road, west until you reach the High Street, turn left and then right into Cool Oak Lane. Immediately after a bridge where the road narrows to one lane, turn right and follow the marked footpath into the wood. As you emerge from the trees, you should see the ground about 300 metres to your left. Walk across the park and the entrance is on the near corner.

Please make every effort to join us and help cheer the lads on to victory.

COYB!!